Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Cholera Outbreak, 08-26-2010
In early May, a cholera outbreak began to spread to 24 districts in northern Cameroon, predominantly in Far North Region. As of August 26, the Government of Cameroon Ministry of Public Health reported more than 3,600 cases, resulting in more than 270 deaths, or approximately six times Cameroon’s average yearly cholera case and death figures. Poor hygiene and inadequate access to clean water have contributed to the scope of the outbreak, according to the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO), and the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé reported that continuing heavy rains would likely exacerbate the outbreak. Between July 27 and August 23, the number of cases increased by nearly 300 percent, and the case fatality rate of approximately 7.5 percent significantly exceeded the 1 percent emergency threshold. Local government authorities in Far North Region planned to deploy hygiene teams to towns and villages to disseminate information on water, sanitation, and hygiene practices to reduce the spread of the disease, according to U.S. Embassy staff.
On August 26, 2010, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Peterson issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the cholera outbreak. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé to WHO for the purchase and distribution of medical supplies for use in health facilities and cholera treatment centers, as well as health training to build local capacity. USAID/OFDA responds to epidemic health emergencies under unique conditions, such as when there is evidence of extraordinarily high case fatality rates that are consistently above emergency thresholds for a prolonged period.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Cameroon, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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